Gymnasts Eye MAC Sweep

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- They've had a target on their backs the entire year, and they will again this weekend.

The Central Michigan gymnasts head into Saturday's Mid-American Conference Championships at Northern Illinois fresh off the MAC regular-season title. The Chippewas, who finished 6-0 in league duals, will attempt to repeat the double: win the Championships and the regular-season crowns in the same season for the second consecutive year.

"Every championship I've been a part of has been different because that team is special and unique and everything they've gone through to be there is unique," CMU associate head coach Christine MacDonald said. "The regular season is its own special title, to do that is very special, and to be undefeated (in MAC duals) is even harder. But to win a tournament title is also very special."

The Championships are set for 2 p.m. at NIU's Convocation Center. CMU is seeking to repeat as the first-place finisher at the MAC Championships for the first time since 2013-14.

WHERE THEY STAND
Central Michigan is averaging 195.655 per meet, which ranks 31st nationally and is the highest among MAC schools. The top 36 in the country qualify for the NCAA Regionals. The Chippewas are ranked 35^th on both floor and balance beam, No. 38 on vault, and No. 40 on bars.

CMU junior Denelle Pedrick, who six times this season has been named the MAC Gymnast of the Week, ranks 41^st nationally with a 39.215 regional qualifying score (RQS) in the all-around. She posted a career-best 39.525 in CMU's dual-meet victory over NIU last week.

Based on RQS, Pedrick is fourth in the league with a 9.880 on floor exercise, and third on both balance beam and on vault (9.825). CMU senior Gianna Plaksa's RQS of 9.835 on unevena bars is second among MAC gymnasts.

The Chippewas have three of the top seven in RQS on beam as Skyler Memmel (9.825) is fifth and Morgan Tong (9.815) is seventh.

In the team RQS among the seven MAC teams, the Chippewas are second on both floor exercise and balance beam, and third on both bars and vault.

BACK TO WORK
The Chippewas had time to enjoy their outright MAC regular-season title, and then got back to work in preparation for Saturday's Championships with an eye toward an NCAA Regional berth.

"We took our time and enjoyed the moment," MacDonald said. "It's exciting and it's something you work for, but it's just one of the titles you're working for. Now the focus switches to the (MAC Championships)."

The Chippewas are seeking their 17^th title since 1990 at the MAC Championships. MacDonald, a former Chippewa gymnast, is in her 23^rd season on the CMU coaching staff.

"There are a lot of uncontrollables when you're at a championship event. The nice thing is we compete at the same time with everybody on the same floor. It's very high energy, it's very intense, and the feeling to be up on a podium with everybody there to celebrate with you is very exciting."

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Skyler Memmel

Denelle Pedrick

Gianna Plaksa

Morgan Tong